Commanders add injury to insulting loss against Cowboys
by Liam Griffin · The Washington TimesARLINGTON, TEXAS — The Commanders’ hopes for a successful season appeared to roll off a cliff Sunday, as quarterback Jayden Daniels left the 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at halftime with a gruesome-looking injury to his left elbow.
A game that featured a competitive 17-10 score at halftime quickly devolved into a blowout with Daniels no longer under center.
The game started with a promising exchange of possessions between the two NFC East rivals. Dallas’ defense, which forced just one punt in their season-opening loss to the New York Giants, held Washington to a three-and-out on the opening possession.
Meanwhile, the Commanders’ defensive struggles from a Week 1 loss in Philadelphia followed them to the Lone Star State. The Cowboys scored on each of their first three possessions, opening up a 17-3 first-half lead behind a dominant passing attack.
Quarterback Dak Prescott had no difficulty finding open receivers as he completed 26 of 31 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns, a pair for both tight end Jake Ferguson and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
But Daniels was similarly sharp to open the game. He completed each of his first seven passes, leading a steady offensive attack.
He looked like the player who won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024. On a third-and-18 in Washington’s second drive, Daniels found wide receiver Terry McLaurin for a 24-yard gain. He converted another third down with an 18-yard scamper to end the first quarter.
But a botched exchange on an attempted toss to running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt stalled the drive and forced Washington to settle for a 27-yard field goal and a 10-3 deficit.
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Daniels doesn’t play defense, though.
Ferguson capped Dallas’ third consecutive scoring drive to open the game with a 10-yard score that saw the closest Washington defender several yards away as the Cowboys extended their lead to 17-3.
Daniels’ first incompletion — his first attempt at a deep shot — required an official review. A beautiful 34-yard toss caught McLaurin in stride in the end zone, narrowly beating tight coverage by Dallas’ DaRon Bland. But an official review of the scoring play determined that McLaurin didn’t complete the catch, as it bobbled out of his arm and touched the blue turf of Dallas’ paydirt.
It didn’t matter. After 23 yards on back-to-back-to-back carries by Rachaad White — and an unnecessary roughness call on Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson — the Commanders found themselves at the 4-yard line.
Receiver Stefon Diggs beat his defender into the flat and walked into the end zone for an easy score — his second of the young season as Washington made the score 17-10.
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Daniels found his second incompletion on the following drive — again on a beautifully thrown ball into the end zone. The pass grazed Treylon Burks’ fingertips. He was unable to haul it in, despite beating Dallas’ Cobie Durant in a foot race to the goal line.
The momentum grew as Daniels again led the Commanders into Dallas territory, culminating with a shot at the end zone on the final play of that half.
Then, any momentum or goodwill within Washington’s fan base popped out of place.
On the last play of the second quarter, Daniels stumbled backward, injuring his left elbow while trying to avoid hitting the turf. He tossed an incompletion on the play before falling to the ground in obvious pain.
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He did not return.
Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota tried to keep the Commanders in the game. He opened the third quarter with another scoring drive, with a 47-yard field goal narrowing Dallas’ advantage to 17-13.
The bad vibes snowballed in the second half. After the Cowboys settled for a field goal on their first third-quarter drive, the Commanders had a shot to tie the game at 20 if they could string together another touchdown drive.
They couldn’t.
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Wide receiver Dyami Brown fumbled on the first play of the next possession, giving the Cowboys ideal field position. Ferguson caught another touchdown pass two plays later, as the Cowboys sealed their victory with a 27-13 advantage.
Dallas added a 60-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey in the fourth quarter before Mariota and Prescott traded deep touchdown passes to set the final score at 37-20.
The 0-2 Commanders play their first home game of the season on Sunday against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. The Cowboys, now 1-1, head to Rio de Janeiro for an international game against the Baltimore Ravens.
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Liam Griffin
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